Several arrested in city drug bust

February 22, 2013

WEIRTON - Several arrests were made by Weirton police Thursday as part of an ongoing marijuana distribution investigation.

According to a release from the Weirton Police Department, officers with the department's Street Crimes Unit served a search warrant Thursday at 938 Byron St.

Upon serving the warrant, police reported recovering a total of six ounces of marijuana from Ronald Johnson, 22, who was the target of the investigation.

Weirton police also arrested Andrew Mainenti, 18 of Weirton, and Austin Jones, 18 of Follansbee, who officials said allegedly conspired with Johnson to travel to Steubenville to purchase six ounces of marijuana before returning to West Virginia to distribute the drug.

While at the Byron Street residence, police reported several other individuals arrived, allegedly intending to purchase marijuana from Johnson.

A total of seven individuals, including two juveniles, were arrested by Weirton police.

Police reported Johnson also had an active capias on indictment from Hancock County for an unrelated incident from 2009.

Officers also retrieved multiple cellular telephones allegedly used for illegal drug transactions. The phones will be analyzed for additional information as part of the investigation, police report.